Huntsville, Alabama (May 15th, 2008)
Huntsville Police Chief Henry Reyes announced HPD will be participating in this
year’s “Click it or Ticket” traffic safety campaign. This campaign is annually
funded by the North Alabama Traffic Safety Office (NATSO). During 2007, 14,464
people died in passenger vehicle crashes while unbelted. Of these highway
deaths, 65% occurred at night.

This year’s Memorial Day Blitz Campaign will begin on May 18th and go
through May 31st. During this two week period Huntsville Police will
be implementing a comprehensive traffic plan using all available resources.
Uniform Patrol Officers from all three precincts will be assigned specific “HOT
SPOT” or high traffic crash areas to enforce traffic laws. The Special
Operations Division will be announcing specific DUI Checkpoints throughout
Huntsville and saturating specific areas using enhanced radar enforcement by the
Traffic Task Force to remind motorists to slow down and buckle up. Specific
violations being targeted are speeding, following too close, no seat belt,
failure to yield right of way and running red lights.

Strong public service announcements and overtime funding grants from NATSO
throughout the year like “Click it or Ticket”, have played an important role in
educating motorists and reducing accidents. These federal grants paid by NATSO
have placed officers on the street enforcing traffic laws which would not have
been possible otherwise. Reyes added “we strongly believe these programs and
our efforts by the Huntsville Police Department to eliminate targeted violations
have had a positive impact on motorists driving habits and reduced accidents
resulting in injuries and deaths.”

A few of the locations being targeted for heavy enforcement and DUI Checkpoints
during this two-week traffic enforcement blitz period are:

oDrake Avenue & Newson / Penny

oDrake Avenue & Cobb / Hood

oBob Wallace Avenue & Leeman Ferry
Road

oJordan Lane & Mastin Lake Road

oBailey Cove Road & Willowbrook
Drive / Weatherly

oCecil Ashburn Drive & Donegal Drive

oAndrew Jackson Way & Pratt Avenue

oJordan Lane & Mastin Lake / Sparkman
Drive

Chief Reyes added that regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to
protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. “Seat belts
clearly save lives. But unfortunately, too many folks still need a tough
reminder, so we are going to be out in force day and night in 2009 buckling down
on those who are not buckled up,” said Chief Reyes.

For more information on NATSO or seat belt safety statistics contact
www.nhtsa.gov